Preview: Reading Away

All the information you could require ahead of the weekend trip to Berkshire..

Reading v Barnsley

Barnsley will travel to Berkshire this weekend to take on the Royals.

The Reds remain within touching distance of the top six and having won three of their last four games on the road in the Championship, they will arrive at the Madejski Stadium in confident mood.

Hosts Reading go into the game unbeaten in their last four outings, leaving Jaap Stam’s side in third place.

That fine form comes following three straight defeats but after wins against Fulham, Cardiff and Birmingham, as well as a draw at Ipswich last weekend, the Royals are only five points below second-placed Brighton.

Two of those victories have come at the Madejski Stadium and having won seven out of their last eight on home soil, it will be far from an easy afternoon for the travelling Reds.

Previous Meetings

Paul Heckingbottom’s men will be out for revenge following September’s 2-1 home defeat against the Royals.

Adam Armstrong’s late goal was not enough after first-half efforts from Garath McCleary and John Swift secured a 28th success for 10-man Reading at Oakwell.

Despite that the Reds have won on their last two visits to the Madejski Stadium, with a 2-1 win in August 2011 and most recently a 3-1 triumph in March 2014.

Hecky will be hoping for more of the same in Berkshire this Saturday as the Reds target a 27th victory against the Royals.

Team News

Deadline day signing Ryan Hedges will be hoping to make his first start for the Reds at the Madejski Stadium.

The former Swansea attacker made his debut off the bench against Preston last weekend but after playing 90 minutes for the U23s on Monday where he had a hand in three of the Reds four goals, he will be chomping at the bit for a starting berth.

Adam Hammill, Elliot Lee and George Moncur will also be looking to be involved against the Royals, while Andy Yiadom returns from the African Cup of Nations.

One man who will not feature on Saturday however is Alex Mowatt, with the midfielder sitting out the second game of his three-match ban.

Hosts Reading could hand a full debut to January signing Lewis Grabban after the on-loan Bournemouth forward was introduced at half-time against Ipswich last weekend.

Another of Reading’s January signings, Jordan Mutch, should continue in midfield, while Roy Beerens will be hoping to join him in Jaap Stam’s starting XI.

The Royals will be without former Barnsley defender Paul McShane however, who has been struggling with a calf injury, and Joey van den Berg is ruled out with a hamstring problem.

Man in the Middle

Barnsley will be eager to secure their second win of the season in the company of referee Darren Bond this weekend. The Lancashire-based official was in charge when the Reds beat QPR 3-2 at Oakwell back in August.

It was the Club’s second win in total with Bond as the man in the middle, also drawing twice and losing just the once.

Reading meanwhile have met with the Lancastrian on three previous occasions, with one win and two defeats coming the Royals way.

The most recent of those games came in August when he watched over the Club’s 2-0 defeat at Wolves, which is one of 26 matches he has taken charge of so far this term; dishing out 74 yellow cards and five reds.

Their Star Man

Garath McCleary is in his fifth season at the Madejski Stadium but this time out he has taken his game to a new level.

The Jamaican has six assists and eight goals so far which has beaten his previous best of five which was achieved both last season and in the 2013-14 campaign.

McCleary began this season by netting three times in his first eight games including one at Oakwell before he was later sent off.

All but one of the 29-year-old’s strikes have come in wins for the Royals and that form was rewarded with a new three-and-a-half year contract last month, with the former Nottingham Forest man’s previous deal set to expire in May.

Able to play out wide, through the middle or just behind the main striker, McCleary’s versatility, pace, ability on the ball and threat in and around the box makes him one of the most dangerous attackers in the Championship and the first name on Jaap Stam’s team sheet.

Mutual Man

Tomasz Cywka joined Barnsley in August 2012 from Saturday’s opponents Reading where he had spent the previous six months.

The Polish forward signed for the Royals from Derby on a free transfer and made just four appearances, scoring no goals before he moved on for pastures new at Oakwell.

After making his debut in a 4-3 League Cup success at Rochdale, the former Poland U21 international went onto appear 33 times in his maiden season with the Reds; chipping in with five goals including a winner at Charlton and a late equaliser at Burnley.

Following a fine first year in South Yorkshire Cywka penned a new one-year contract, with the Pole flourishing under the guidance of David Flitcroft who was appointed Barnsley manager halfway through the 2012-13 season.

He remained a key figure for the Reds in the 2013-14 campaign despite the departure of Flitcroft, making another 33 appearances and scoring four including a stunning 30-yard free-kick against Nottingham Forest.

Unfortunately those goals were not enough to help the Reds avoid relegation and following that demotion, Cywka departed Oakwell.

The 28-year-old then spent a season at Blackpool which included a brief loan spell at Rochdale, before he returned to his native Poland and Wisla Krakow in July 2015.

Form Guide

Barnsley's last five away from home: (WWDLW)

Cardiff 3-4 Barnsley

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Barnsley

Blackpool 0-0 Barnsley (FA Cup)

Fulham 2-0 Barnsley

Rotherham 0-1 Barnsley

Reading’s last five at home: (WWLWW)

Reading 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Reading 3-1 Norwich City

Reading 0-1 Queens Park Rangers

Reading 1-0 Fulham

Reading 2-1 Cardiff City

Going to the match?

Reading play at the Madejski Stadium, its address is as follows:

Reading Football Club

Madejski Stadium

Reading

Berkshire

RG2 0FL

How to get there

By Car:

From Junction 11 of the M4, follow signs towards Reading. Madejski Stadium is on your left-hand side after less than a mile.

Parking:

Amec Foster Wheeler, Shinfield Park, 500 spaces.

Free to park. This involves a short bus ride to and from the stadium. Fares on return bus shuttle are £3.50 adult return and £1.70 child return. There is also a group ticket costing £7 for a group of five people (with a maximum of three adults per group). It is situated just south of Junction 11 of the M4, take exit B3270 (signposted Earley) and follow yellow signs to ‘Match Reading FC Park & Ride’.

Mereoak Park & Ride (RG7 1PB), 573 spaces.

Free to park. This involves a short bus ride to and from the stadium. Fares on return bus shuttle are £3.50 adult return and £1.70 child return. There is also a group ticket costing £7 for a group of five people (with a maximum of three adults per group). It is situated just south of Junction 11 of the M4, take the A33 towards Basingstoke and follow the signs for the park & ride site.

Greyhound / Speedway Stadium site, 500 spaces

£7 per car. Five minutes’ walk to the Stadium. Access off the A33 at the Bennet Road roundabout.

Cordwallis, Bennet Road, (RG2 0QX), 500 spaces

£8 per car. Five minutes’ walk to the Stadium. Located opposite the Jaguar garage on Bennet Road.